Art of and means for cutting leather



' Nov. 24, 1936.

E. BERKOWITZ 2,061,647 ART OF AND MEANS FOR CUTTING LEATHER Filed April 25, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR e1 Berkowizz ATTORNEY Nov. 24, 1936.

E. BERKOWITZ 2,061,647

ART OF AND MEANS FOR CUTTING LEATHER Filed April 25, 1952 4 Sheets-Shed 2 w; ms 32 Hg ff l l I INVENTOR Emanuel .Berkowizz ATTORNEY Nov. 24, 1936. BERKQWITZ 2,061,647

ART OF AND MEANS FOR CUTTING LEATHER Filed April 23, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet. 3

IN V EN TO R fmanuelBerlro W! i z BY 7 A; :ORNEY 'Nov. 24, 1936. E, ERKOWITZ 2,061,647

ART OF AND MEANS FOR CUTTING LEATHER Filed April 25, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A'ITORNEY Patented Nov. 24, 1936 UETE T i ART OF AND ll'IEAN S FOR CUTTING LEATHER- 10 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of, and means for cutting from leather and the like, parts of various shapes, such as are adapted for use as soles, heels,.shanks, counters and other parts of shoes.

One of the great difficulties in the art of cutting leather is that leather, unlike most other materials in sheet or web form such as metal, textiles, paper, and the like, is not adapted economically to be fed and cut continuously by automatic machinery, such as may be used for cutting or stamping other materials. While leather is produced in sheets or sides, being usually animal hides or skins, it is well known that the thickness of any given hide is not uniform throughout but varies considerably from head to butt. Furthermore, defects in the hide due to the method of procuring and making the leather may appear at some unexpected point in the hide. For these reasons, any methods or means for cutting the leather should be so adaptable or flexible, or in other words, adjustable as to meet the peculiar requirements for economical cutting resulting from lack of uniform thickness and defects at unexpected points.

My invention therefore contemplates the provision of leather cutting means adjustable during operation thereof to out parts differing in width from different parts of the hide, to-correspond to the thickness of the hide at the particular place from which the part is out. My invention further contemplates the provision of improved cutting knives, enabling the cutting of one or more of the desired parts at a time, or of a portion of one part and a portion of a succeeding part simultaneously, at high speed, and permitting the ejection of waste pieces from the hide, said knives being so designed as to enable the cutting of the desired parts or portions thereof with a minimum amount of labor and with substantial economy of material.

My invention further contemplates improvements in the art of cutting leather so as to avoid the necessity for marking patterns of the parts on the hide, and contemplates the provision of means for accomplishing these ends. My invention further contemplates the provision of leather parts for shoes so designed as to permit cutting said parts from the hide economically and at high speed and with a considerable saving of material.

The variousobjects of my invention will be clear from the description which follows, and from the drawings, in which,

Fig. l is a top plan view of a leather cutting machine to which my invention has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the adjusting means for determining the width of the part to be cut'from the hide while the machine is in operation.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a' modified form of the same.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation ofthe knife used in the machine, and of the support therefor.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of a modified form of knife support wherein means are provided for insuring the ejection of waste pieces.

Fig. 9 is a similar view' of the same, showing a modified form of the waste-ejecting members.

Fig. 10' is a similar view of the same, showing another modified form of the waste-ejecting members.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a leather strip showing the shapes of the cuts made by two sets of knives in producing half soles alternately in inverted relation, one set of cuts representing one set of knives being shown in full lines, and the other in dashdot lines. In the remaining figures, full lines and dashdot lines are similarly used to indicate the knife shapes and the cuts made thereby.

Fig; 12 is a similar view of a strip and of the shapes of cuts and of the single set of knives to out half soles in the same corresponding position from the strip.

Fig. 13 is a similar view of a strip showing the shapes of the cuts and knives used in cutting top lifts.

Fig. 14. is asimilar view of a strip showing the use of two knives alternately for making intersecting cuts to out half soles in the same position as in Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a similar view of a strip showing how the knives, making intersecting cuts produce the soles in the relation disclosed in Fig. 11.

Fig. 16 is a similar view of a strip showing in full lines the shape of the knife and of the cut made thereby to produce a half sole with attached waste pieces, the uncut outline of the finished sole being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 17 is a similar view of a strip showing how counters may be cut therefrom by the use of one knife.

Fig. 18 is a similar view of a strip illustrating the cutting of shanks therefrom.

Fig. 19 is a similar view of a strip illustrating in the same manner, the cutting of half soles with a partly attached waste piece.

Fig. 20' is a perspective view of the half sole produced by the knives and cuts of Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a planview of a strip showing the cutting of right and left soles therefrom, together with intermediate shanks and top lifts.

Fig. 22 is a similar view of a strip illustrating in the same manner the knives and the cuts made in cutting overlapping half soles with economy.

Fig. 23 is a similar view, illustrating in the same manner, the cutting of half soles in inverted relation with intermediate top lifts.

Fig. 24 is a similar view of a strip showing in the same manner, the cutting of mated half soles in inverted relation.

Fig. 25 is a similar view of a strip showing, in the same manner, another arrangement of the half soles on the strip, and the knives and cuts made thereby.

Fig. 26 is a similar view of a pair of mated half soles such as may be cut from a strip by designing the knives so as to leave a non-cutting gap between certain portions of the knives illustrated in Fig. 12.

Fig. 27 is a similar view of a slightly modified form of mated soles out in a similar manner.

Fig. 28 is a similar view of a pair of mated soles in inverted relation such as may be cut by leaving a non-cutting gap in the knives illustrated in Figs. 11 and 24.

Fig. 29 is a similar view of a pair of mated soles which may be cut from a strip by means of a pair of alternately acting knives, the waste pieces between the soles not being removed nor cut.

Fig. 30 is a similar view illustrating in full lines and in dash-dot lines, respectively, the shapes of the knives and of the cuts used where intersecting cuts are advantageous to out half soles in end-abutting and inverted relation.

Fig. 31 is a similar view, showing in the same manner the shapes of the knives and of the cuts used in producing edge-corrugated heel pieces to be imbedded in rubber heels.

Fig. 32 is a plan view of a portion of a hide showing the cuts made therein to out the hide first into irregularly shaped strips and then into soles with a minimum of waste.

Fig. 33 is a similar view, showing the formation of mated soles and the cutting thereof from a similar strip of double width.

Fig. 34 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the portion of a machine for operating the knives and showing three, knives in the machine operated alternately.

Fig. 35 is a top plan view of part of the machine and particularly, the feed table thereof, illustrating the manner in which the strip of Fig. 32 is fed for cutting the strip into individual soles.

In that practical embodiment of my invention which I have illustrated by way of example, and referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown a leather cutting machine of the type known as a Knox blocker and disclosed in the patent to David Knox, No. 317,463, dated May th, 1885. The Knox blocker, as heretofore known, can only be used for making cuts completely across a strip by means of two knives operating alternately. Only incompletely shaped parts could therefore be cut on such machines. By means of my invention, however, the knives are so shaped that they will make cuts of the desired intersecting or branched outline, enabling the cutting of completely shaped parts, as will be hereinafter explained in more detail. Furthermore, by making the stops for aligning the leading edge of the leather strip adjustable during operation of the machine, I am enabled to compensate for desired variations in the width of the part to be cut in accordance with the varying thicknesses of the strip and of defects occurring in the strip. By providing an indicating gauge to determine the amount needed to swing the knife, I am further able to vary the widths or shapes of the parts to be out without the necessity of first marking the strip with a pattern. I have also provided an improved machine whereby one knife may be used to make cuts heretofore impossible with the Knox blocker or a plurality of knives up to three are utilized to cut any desired variety of shapes in any desired relation.

As illustrated, the frame 40 supports the various operating instrumentalities including the oscillating frames 4| and 42 constituting the knife mountings, and in which the knives 43 and 44 are respectively mounted for pivotal adjustment, as by means of the bolt and nut pivot 45. The frames 4! and 42 are alternately oscillated to carry the knives into cutting position alternately. Between each or alternate cutting operations, the operator feeds the strip 46 so that the leading edge thereof engages the proper aligning stop 4'! or 48. Each of the frames is oscillated by suitable mechanism such as the connecting rod 49, the crank disc 50, and suitable gear wheels 5!, 52 interposed between and operatively connecting the pulley 53 to the crank disc in a manner well known in the art and hence which need not be described in detail. The knocker arms 54 are similarly oscillated at the proper time through the link 55, the rod 56 and the crank disc 5'! to remove or knock out the part severed from the strip, from the table 58.

While the cutting machine just described is illustrated as having two knives of the proper form, it will be understood that only one of said knives may be used, if desired, by the removal either of the knife from its oscillatory frame, or by the disconnection or removal of one set of connecting rods 49, and that the machine may be speeded up so that the one knife operates as fast to make cuts as when both knives are used. It will further be understood that in some types of cutting, it may become desirable to use three knives cutting alternately, depending upon the shapes of the parts to be cut and the arrangement thereof. In the latter case, the third knife as 59 (Fig. 34) may be mounted on the vertically reciprocating cam rod 60 operating in the bearing 6| of the frame and carrying the cam roller 62. The cam roller and the knife 59 are normally urged upwardly on the rod 60. When the cam 63 on the shaft 64 is brought into engagement with the cam roller, the knife is caused to descend rapidly to make a cut. Said shaft 64 is driven by one of the gears 5! through the gear 66 mounted on said shaft 64. The parts are so designed that the knife 59, carried on the frame 61 by means of the nut and bolt 68, is raised and lowered at sufiicient speed and at the proper time to clear the oscillating knives 43 and 44, and to avoid interference with the operation thereof.

As has been hereinbefore indicated, means are provided for adjusting the positions of the stops 4? and 48, without the necessity for stopping the machine, and while the machine is operating. Said means, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, includes the slide it! on which said stops 4?, 48 are mounted. The tongues 72 of said slide are supported for forward and rearward adjustment in suitable flanges as 13.by means of. which it is secured to.

the frame of themachine. The adjustingmeans further includes the link 14., secured at. one end as 15 to the slide, and at. its other. end tothe upper end 18 of the lever 11. Thelower end 18 of. said lever is mounted on the shaft 19 carried by the bearings 880i the bracket 8|.

As best seen inFig. 1, a crank. as 82 is secured to the shaft 19, said crank being connected by the rod 83 to the adjusting. arm 84. Asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, the shank 85. dependingfrom the adjusting knob 86, passes through the arm 84 and terminates in a head 81 adapted to support the. spring 88. Said spring is interposed between the head 81 and the. arm 84 and serves to urge the adjusting. knob 86 downwardly and the arm 84.upwardly into. frictional engagement with the under side of the leg 89 of the bracket 98. At its upper surface, the legv 8911s suitably indented or recessed asat 9I by a series of adjacent recesses, each adapted to receive the shoulder or detent 92 of the adjusting knob, and thereby to maintain the adjusting knob normally in its adjusted position.

The shank 85 passes through a suitable slot 93 in the bracket leg 89, and is movable forwardly and rearwardly in said slot by first lifting the adjusting knob 86 slightly until the detent 92 leaves the recess 9|, then moving the adjusting knob whereby the shank 85 moves in the slot 93, carrying the arm 84 with it, and. through the connections previously described moving the slide 18 in the desired direction. When the adjusting knob has been moved the required distance and released, the spring carries the detent 82 into the recess 9I, which is so shaped as to maintain said detent therein until removed therefrom. To determine the amount of adjustment, the mem ber 86 is provided with a pointer 94 pointing to a scale 95, which may be marked, if desired, with suitable indicia to indicate the width of the part which will be cut to correspondwith the indication on the scale.

While it will be understood that the stops 41, 48 are each themselves separately adjustable in the lug 98 of the slide 18, as by means of the nuts 91, it will be clear that after said stops have been set in their proper positions relatively to the slide, the adjusting knob 86 may be moved in the proper direction while the machine is running, to change the width of the parts, such as shoe soles, which are cut by the machine.

I have therefore made it possible to vary the width of the parts without interruption of the work and without the necessity for stop-ping the machine, or laying a pattern on the strip, or marking out the pattern on the strip and then again starting the machine, as has hereinbefore been necessary to accomplish this end. Theadjustment just described is particularly advantageous to cut wide soles or the like, such as soles of E or EE width from the central part of the hide or strip, where the leather is usually thickest, without halting the machine.

As shown in Fig. 4, the knob or handle for adjusting the aligning stops ,may take a different form. As there shown, the rod 83 is connected to the lever 296 by means of the bifurcated mem ber 291. Said lever is pivoted to the bracket 98 as at 98 and terminates at its upper end in the hollow handle I88. Normally urged upwardly by the spring I8! and passing through the handle is the spring-pressed'finger piece. I82, which terminates at its lower end in. a suitable. pawl or detent I83 normally urged upwardl by the spring I8I into engagement with. the downwardly facing teeth I84 of the rack. I88. In this form, the finger piece I82 is pressed downwardly against the action of the spring I8I to remove the pawl or detent I83 from the rack teeth, whereafter the lever 296 may be swung. about its pivot in either direction to operate the rod83. and therethrough to move the slide 18 and the stops 41 and 48 into the desired adjusted position to enable the cutting of parts of the desired width.

It will be seen that power being applied to the pulley 53, the knives 43 and 44 are brought down alternately on to the table 58, to cut through the strip resting on the table.

It. will be. further be understood that the strip lies on the table with a side edge in engagement with the side guide I86. In operation, the strip 46 is first pushed rearwardly under the knife 43 or 44, a suflicient distance to permit the knife to trimthe leading edge to the proper shape, after which the leading edge is pushed into contact with a selected one of. the stops 41, 48 before the other knife 43 or 44 comes down to make the second cut. Should a defect appear in the strip during the cutting operation, the strip is moved forward only a sufficient distance to cut off or clear the defect whereafter the operation is resumed. As the thicker part of the leather is reached, the adjusting means are operated to move the stops 41, 48 rearwardlyso as to cut wider soles.

It sometimes becomes necessary to swing either or both of the knives 43, 44 about their pivots 4:3, as when it is desired to out parts of a different shape or .size. This is accomplished by stopping the machine, loosening the nut of the pivot 45, then swinging the knife aboutits pivot until the ends of the knife become arranged in the desired position. I-Ieretofore, it has been customary to mark the strip by means of a pattern, giving the desired shape'or size. I have, however, made it unnecessary to mark the strip, by providing scales or indicating marks for the ends of the knife. The knife is swung until its ends are opposite the selected points of the scales I81 on the gauges I88. Each of said gauges is mounted on the cross bar I89 as by means of a set screw I I8.

The general form of the knives 43 and 44 will now be described. Since said knives are similar to each other except for the contour of the edges thereof, the description of one and of the mounting therefor will suifice for both. Secured to the pivot bolt 45 is the knife-supporting block IIi. (Figs. 5 to 10).

Suitable screws as H2 pass through said block and into the upper edges of the knife blades I I3, said blades being sufiiciently thick at their upper edges for that purpose. As illustrated in Fig. '7, a branched knife blade is shown suitable for making the total arcuate full line out II4 of Fig. 11, so as to complete the cutting of one half sole at each knife stroke and of the succeeding half soles in reversed relation.

The knife blade H3 is preferably made of a single piece of material or of two pieces welded or otherwise permanently secured together to form a single cutting edge at the point H5 and apair of branched or outwardly, diverging cutting edges at other points. In the space IE8 between the branohes H1 and I I8 of the cutting edges, I prefer to arrange means for insuring the separation of the waste piece H9 (Fig. 11.) from the strip. As illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, and '1,

said means takestheform of a knockout block,

I20 secured to the lower end of the screw I2 I, the upper end I22 of which is arranged in the recess I23 of the knife block III. The spring I24 is interposed between the upper face of the block I29 and the under face of the knife block I I I and normally urges the knock-out block I20 downwardly.

It will be seen that as the knife descends and cuts into the leather, the knock-out block I20 rests on the upper surface of the waste strip while the knife cuts through, the screw I2I being raised relatively to the block III, and the spring I24 being compressed. On the upward movement of the knife blade, the compressed spring I24 urges the screw I2I and the knock-out block I20 attached thereto against the waste piece with considerable force, and thereby serves to insure separation of the waste piece from the remainder of the strip.

It will be understood that as many screws I2I and springs I24 as may be found necessary are used, though a single screw and spring is shown for each of said knock-out blocks.

As illustrated, in Fig. 8, however, the springs, screws and knock-out blocks may be eliminated and the waste piece allowed to enter the space between the branches III and II8 of the knife edges. The upper part of said space, however, is filled by the resilient member I29 preferably of rubber or the like and having a bevelled or arcuate surface I25. It will be seen that as the waste pieces II 9 enter the spaces between the knives, said waste pieces are gradually forced outwardly by the bevelled surface I25 in the manner shown in dash-dot lines of Fig. 8 until they finally become dislodged and fall out of the spaces.

As shown in Fig. 9, the resilient block I26 of rubber or the like material may fill the entire space between the knife edges III and H8. Said block operates in the same manner as the knockout pieces I20, since owing to the resiliency of the block, the block is first compressed against the waste piece and on the upward movement of the knife, is expands and pushes upon the waste piece and ejects it from the strip.

As shown in Fig. 10, a central block I2! of any suitable material may be used provide-d with the upwardly and outwardly tapering surfaces I28. As the waste pieces II9 accumulate in the spaces between the knives, said waste pieces are gradually forced outwardly by the surfaces I28 until they are entirely dislodged and ejected.

It will be understood that the knife blades may take any desired form, depending on the shapes and arrangements of the parts to be cut. I have found, however, that it is inadvisable to have a closed knife, that is, one of closed outline, to cut a section other than a waste piece from the strip. Such closed knives require an extraordinary amount of pressure when the area enclosed thereby is comparatively large, and further, make it impossible to avoid defects in the leather without wasting a complete part. In what follows, therefore, I have shown a variety of knives for cutting various shapes and various arrangements of such shapes, but I have avoided using a. closed knife of such shape that the enclosed part which it cuts out from a strip is a finished part.

Referring now to Fig. 11, I have there shown the strip 46, in which the dash-dot lines illustrate the shape of the branched knife edges necessary to make the branched out I30. In full lines, I have shown the shape of the knives necessary to make the cut II 4. The strip at is fed so that the right hand part of the knife II Will clear the leather and make the cut ISI constituting the leading edge of the strip. Said edge is then fed against the proper selected stop 4! or 48, whereafter the cut I30 is made, separating the half sole I32 from the strip and cutting part of the succeeding sole I33. By repeating the operation, similar half soles of completely shaped contour, may be cut from the strip in inverted relation.

It will be understood that if desired, the central portion I I5 of the knife blade I 30 may be omitted so as to fail to' separate the sole I32 from the sole I33, whereby a pair of mated soles as I34 (Fig. 28) having reentrant outwardly diverging peripheral end edges, directed toward each other, is provided. Said mated soles may be sol-d to the trade as such to be later cut apart by the user.

It will be understood, however, that the va rious waste pieces II9 are completely severed from the strip and thereby, the necessity for later cutting the waste portions of the strip apart into smaller pieces suitable for other purposes, is avoided.

As illustrated in Fig. 12, the knife blades are so designed as to out similar soles I32 in the same relative position from the strip, and to correspond to the shape of the branched out I35. A single branched blade only is therefore necessary. Said blade may be arranged on either one of the knife frames 4| or 42 of the machine and the other knife-carrying frame disconnected as hereinbefore described so that only a single knife operates upon the strip as it is fed against the stops. The machine may thereby be speeded up since the same knife does all the cutting. The method of cutting the strip consists in first clearing the lea-ding edge by means of the right hand branched portion of the knife blade, after which the strip is fed against the stop between each stroke of the cutting knife. 7

It will be understood that if desired, an intersecting or central portion of the knife blade may be omitted in the manner described in connection with the mated soles I34 so as to produce the mated soles I36 of Fig. 26.

It will further be understood that in cutting the strip 46 of Fig. 11, or the strip I37 of Fig. 12, unbranched knives may be so shaped as to out a pair of mated soles I40 (Fig. 29) by means of a linear knife of the shape shown by the full line I38 of Fig. 29, operating alternately with a single similar knife shaped in accordance with the full line I39. This will produce the leather piece I40 wherein the mated soles are joined together without an intermediate dividing cut with the waste pieces attached thereto.

It will be understood that in producing the part I40, the strip is fed between each stroke a distance substantially equal to twice the width of a sole. After the cuts I38 and I39 have been made, repetition of the cut I38 after the strip is fed will produce a part I40 from the strip in inverted relation to the part shown in Fig. 29 but with the waste pieces attached. It will further be understood that the user may utilize the waste pieces which he cuts from the part I49 for the purpose of cutting out heel lifts or the like.

As illustrated in Fig. 13, heel lifts as MI may be cut from the strip I 42 in the same manner and by the same types of knives as hereinbefore described in connection with Figs. 11 and 12, the

branched knife taking the form of the branched dash-dot line I59.

As shown in Fig. 17, counters as I43 may be out from the strip I64 by the use of a branched knife blade of the shape of the branched dashdot line I45.

In Fig. 18, I have illustrated the use of the same method for cutting shanks as I46 from the strip It! by the use of a pair of branched blades corresponding in shape to the branched dash-dot line I48 and to the full branched line I49, re spectively.

In Fig. 31, I have illustrated the cutting of heel inserts which are intended to be imbedded in a rubber heel. The insert I56 is provided with protuberances and recesses at various points about which the rubber of the heel is compressed. Such heels are used for the purpose of eliminating rivets and washers so that the heel may be nailed to a shoe without the use of washers or rivets in a manner now known.

Said heel inserts may be cut from the strip I5.I by means of a branched knife blade shaped in accordance with the dash-dot lines I52, whereby a single branched knife is used and the strip fed between each stroke of the knife.

In what follows, I will describe my improved method in connection with the cutting of soles and half soles, though it will be understood that the same method can be applied to the cutting of heel lifts, counters, shanks and the like, as will be obvious from the above, and from Figs. 13, 17, 18 and 31.

Since it may be advisable in some cases to use what I will call unbranched knives, I have illustrated the use of such knives in Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 30. Referring to Fig. 14, I have there shown the use of an unbranched knife shaped to correspond with the full line I53, and a second knife shaped to correspond with the dashdot line I54. In cutting soles by means of such knives, the leading edge of the leather is cleared by the right hand part of the knife corresponding to the out I53 as shown by the full line I55. Immediately after the cut I55 is made and without permitting any movement of the strip or feed thereof, the second knife comes down to make the cut I56 which forms approximately half of the succeeding sole and rounds the heel part of the previous sole. It will be understood that the cut I54 does not reach completely to the edge of the strip, nor does the heel part thereof pass through any leather, since the leather has first been cleared so that part of the out falls outside of the strip. The cut I54, furthermore, terminates inwardly of one edge of the strip at a point as I56 whereby the waste strip I5'I remains attached.

After the cuts I 55 and let have been made, the strip is then fed so that the leading edge I55 abuts against the proper one of the stops 4'! or 58, whereupon the strip has been fed a suflicient distance so that the operation may be repeated. That is, the cut I53 is made after the strip has been fed and said out passing the point I56 severs the sole from the strip with its attached waste piece I56. However, since the strip is not now fed, the next cut I5 3 severs the waste piece I56 so that the strip may now again be fed until the line I53 engages the proper stop. By repeating this operation, it will be seen that half soles I32 are out. It will be remembered, however, that in this method of cutting the soles, two knives are used and that the strip is not fed until both knives have completed dot line I62.

One knife makes a A second knife makes the out corresponding to the dash-dot line. I6I, while the third knife makes the cut corresponding to the dash-double- After the leading edge of the strip has been severed by the cut I62, the strip is preferably not moved, but the cut on the line I66 is 'made whereby the waste piece I63 is severed. The strip is now moved until the edge i contacts with the proper stop, after which the cut on the line I6I is made, severing the sole E32 and the waste piece I65. The strip is new again moved until the severed edge on the line I6I engages the proper stop, whereafter the next cut I62 is made to sever the next sole and the waste piece I66. The strip is now again fed until its leading edge engages the same stop as that first engaged by the leading edge of the strip, whereafter the. operations are repeated.

It will be noted that three knives are used, but that two of the knives operate preferably in succession without any intermediate feed of the strip, unless the cutting positions of the knives are spaced apart to permit intermediate feed of the strip. That is, the cuts on the lines I62 and I 64 are preferably made while the strip is stationary, after which the strip is fed twice, first, for the cut I6I and again, to position the strip for the cut I62.

The machine of Fig. 34 is peculiarly adapted for cutting the soles in the manner just described, since three knives may there be used, operating in the desired manner. ,It will be understood, however, that the shapes indicated for the knives in Fig. 15 may be considerably varied, and still remain unbranohed for the purpose of cutting out the soles as described.

Referring now to Fig. 16, I have there shown a method of cutting soles, each with two attached wastepieces. In this form of my invention, a single unbranched knife is used, shaped to make the cut I61. The sole I66 thus formed has attached at the upper left corner thereof, the waste piece I69, and at the lower right cor ner thereof, the piece I'IG. Said pieces, as has been previously indicated, may be utilized by the user for cutting out heel lifts and similar articles. In Fig. 16, the strip is fed after each cut by the knife the proper distance, as determined by the adjustable stops of the machine.

It is sometimes advisable to provide half soles I'II (Fig. 20) or other shapes with a waste strip I12 only partly attached thereto and partly severed therefrom. In such cases, the knives need not extend completely across the strip, but the strip may be so fed that part thereof adjacent an edge of the strip is not severed during the cutting operation.

In other words, part of the strip during the feeding thereof lies outside of the knife. Referring to Fig. 19, the dash-dot lines I'I3 illusstrate a cut made by a suitably shaped branched knife, the end I'M of one of the blades terminating inwardly of the adjacent edge of the strip. A single branched knife is here used and the strip fed after each out. It will be seen that a complete sole I II together with a partly severed waste piece I12 is severed from the strip at each cut of the knife, and that the user may complete the partial out I13 to leave a finished half sole and to utilize the piece I72 for other purposes. It will also be understood that the sole III may have two or more partly severed waste pieces attached thereto as will be seen for example, from Figs. 11 and 16.

It will be understood that my improved knives may be made of any desired shape to make a multiplicity of cuts branching out, converging or diverging in different directions. For example, I have shown in Fig. 21 how four different shapes consisting of right and left soles, a pair of shanks, and a heel lift may be cut from the strip by means of only two knives, the strip being fed after each out. One of the knives makes the dash-dot line out I15 to sever the shank I11, and the waste pieces I16, I18, I86, and I79. The other knife may make the out represented by the full lines I to complete the sole IBI and to sever the shank I82 and the heel lift I83 as well as to sever the waste pieces I84, I85, I81, I88 and I89, and to form half of the sole I90.

In other words, it being understood that the knife edge of my improved mechanism may be given any desired shape, a great variety of shapes variously positioned in many different ways may be cut from the strip or skin with considerable saving of material and of labor. In the succeeding description, some of the various arrangements of parts and consequently, the various knife shapes and method of feeding strips will be explained as examples.

Referring to Fig. 22, I have there shown a strip I9I of less than twice the width of a sole yet used for cutting out two partly overlapping soles arranged substantially end to end from the width of the strip. Two knives are used and the strip is fed between each cut of each of the knives. One knife assumes the form shown by the dash-dot lines I92, while the other knife assumes the form of the full lines I93. As will be obvious from the inspection of Fig. 22, four comparatively small Waste pieces I94, I95, I96 and I91 are severed (or partly severed, as de sired) from the strip, as are two soles I98 and I99. It will be noted that the knife I92 includes a curved branched member 200 extending toward the front of the machine while the knife I93 includes a similar member 20I oppositely curved.

Should it be desired to cut mated soles such as I36 from the strip I9I, it will be understood that part of the edge of either the knife I92 or the knife I93 may be interrupted or omitted at the point 202 where the cuts made by said knives would contact. It will also be understood that the knives may be made of less length than the width of the strip to leave the waste pieces partly attached and partly severed as has been hereinbefore described in connection with Fig. 19.

Referring to Fig. 23, I have there shown similar soles arranged in reversed relation to be cut from the strip 203 by suitable branched knives. One of said knives is shaped to make the cut shown by the dash-dot lines 254, while the other knife is shaped to make the cut 295 shown by the full lines. The knife making the cut 285 also cuts out the heel lifts 296 and 201. The knives out alternately and the strip is fed between each out.

In Fig. 24., I have shown a means and method other than that disclosed in Fig. 22, for cutting out two soles from the width of a strip. These soles may be mated soles attached together as in Fig. 26, or they may be joined in reversed position as at I34 (Fig. 28). If the knife is properly shaped, a single branched knife is sufiicient to sever two soles at each stroke. The knife takes the form of the dash-dot lines 268, each stroke of which cuts one-half of one set of soles to sever them from the strip and simultaneously forms the other half of the succeeding member of soles while cutting out the waste strips 209, 2N and 2. It will be understood that these soles may be cut with two knives, if desired.

In Fig. 25, I have shown an arrangement of soles similar to that of Fig. 24, excepting that the soles are arranged end to end across the strip to make the width of the strip twice that of the length of the sole. In this case, two branched knives are used, one of the shape of the dash-dot lines 2I2, and the other of the shape of the full lines 2I3. On the stroke of each of the knives, two complete soles are cut out as well as three waste pieces, as will be clear from inspection of the figure, since each knife cuts one-half of a pair of soles and simultaneously cuts the other half of the succeeding pair.

In order to save material, it will be clear that the rear edge 2H3 of the sole may be curved as at 2I5, (Fig. 27), if desired, and that the knives may be so shaped as to cut the soles in the same relative position on the strip to produce the mated soles 2K5. As shown in Fig. 25, however, if a gap is left in one of the knives as at 2I'I, the mated soles I34 (Fig. 28) are formed. The waste piece may also be only partly severed and may remain partly attached to the mated soles by terminating the knives somewhat short of the edges of the strip, as has been previously explained.

Referring to Fig. 30, I have there shown how unbranched knives may be used in cutting a wide strip so that two soles arranged end to end are cut therefrom. In this case, one of the knives is shaped to make the cut shown by the dash-dot line 2I8 across the strip 2I9. Preferably without feeding the strip, the second knife now operates to make the cut shown by the full line 22!), thereby severing two soles from the strip. It will be understood that a portion 22I. of the knife making the cut 2I8 is omitted so as to retain the sole 222 attached to the strip before the out 229 is made, the second knife only, serving to sever the soles and the waste pieces from the strip. I will also be understood that the strip may be fed between cuts if the cutting positions of the knives are respectively spaced the proper distance.

While I have above described certain shapes and arrangements of shoe parts and methods of cutting said parts from strips, I have referred hereinbefore only to strips of uniform width and having parallel edges, which strips are previously cut from the hide.

I will now describe the methods of cutting parts such as soles from the hide with maximum economy of leather and by means of the types of knives now used on the blocking machine. This form of my invention contemplates the cutting of the hide into strips having irregularly shaped edges, which are of predetermined form. As shown in Fig. 32, I have illustrated part of a hide with the soles appearing thereon as though already out though it will be understood that the hide is not marked in carrying out my invention. However, the hide is first cut into strips by stripping cuts indicated by the heavy lines.

The out 225 is made by the usual stripper but the ordinary straight stripping knife is not used. The knife of the well-known stripping machine is shaped to make said cut 225 .of the desired irregular outline. Thereafter, the hide is moved to a suitable stop and the similar stripping cut 226 is made, thereby cutting off a strip 22'! from the hide. In said strip, the soles are partly formed by the stripping cut and it now remains only to make the remaining cuts to separate the soles. It will be seen that only two unbranched knives are necessary to make said :cuts. The shape of one knife -is illustrated by the dashdouble-dot line 228, while theshape of the second knife is illustrated by the dash-single-dot line 229. As shown in Fig. 35, the strip is fed in the direction of the arrow, one edge resting against the upright face .230 of the :strip gLLide 23!. In this case, the knives cut alternately and the strip is fed against the proper stop 41, 48 or 2% after each cut.

Where it is desired to out two pairs of mated soles at a time from the hide, (Fig. 33), the strip is cut from the hide in the same manner but is of twice the width of the strip 221. A single unbranched knife shaped in accordance with the dash-dot lines 232 is used, and the strip is fed between each cut of the knife. Each out therefore severs two pairs of mated soles 233 at each stroke.

It will be understood that by shaping one or more knives according to predetermined cutting lines, a great variety of shapes in a variety of different positions may be cut from a strip of leather while making provision for defects and while permitting variations in the width of the parts out in accordance with the thickness of the leather.

It will be seen that/I have provided novel cutting methods and means for carrying out said methods, and that my invention is well adapted to meet the severe requirements of practical use.

While I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto but intend to claim my invention as broadly as may be permitted by the state of the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In mechanism of the character described, a knife provided with a cutting edge of predetermined shape, means for oscillating said knife alternately in opposite directions for cutting parts of predetermined shape from a strip of leather, an aligning stop for said strip arranged at the rear of the machine, and means arranged at the front of the machine and operatively connected to said stop for adjusting the stop forwardly and rearwardly during operation of the knife including an adjusting handle, and spring-pressed means for normally maintaining said handle in its adjusted position, said means permitting the operator to vary the width of the parts out from the strip in accordance with the varying thicknesses of the strip and the defects therein.

2. In mechanism of the character described, a plurality of knives each provided with a cutting edge of predetermined shape, means for operating each of said knives to make cuts in succession in a strip, means for aligning said strip, and means for adjusting said aligning means including a spring-pressed detent, and a recessed member cooperating with the detent to normally maintain the detent in the position in which it is set in the member.

3. In a machine of the character described, a knife, means for oscillating the knife to make a :series of :cutsin a strip, means for supporting the strip for manual intermittent movement through the machine during the oscillation of the knife, an aligning stop for the strip, a side guide for the strip, and means for adjusting the position of 1 the stop during operation of the knife including aspring-pressed detent, a support for the detent, and means for operatively connecting the detent to the stop.

4. In mechanism of the character described, a knife support, means for oscillating said support alternately in opposite directions, a stop adapted to align the leading edge of a strip, a knife having branched cutting edges pivoted to the knife support, said knife being shaped to sever waste pieces from the strip, means for adjusting the step during the manual feeding of the strip through the mechanism to vary the widths of the parts out from the strip, and means associated with the knife for ejecting said Waste pieces.

5. In mechanism of the character described, means for aligning the leading edge of a strip of leather, means for adjusting the aligning means, means for making cuts in said strip comprising an oscillatory knife, having branched cutting edges shaped to make a series of cuts spaced from each other throughout the width of the strip but contacting for a comparatively short distance at points adjacent the center of the strip, and means associated with the knife to eject waste pieces cut from said strip.

6. In a leather cutting machine, a knife having a pair of tangent arcuate cutting edges, a pivoted holder for the knife, means for oscillating said holder about its pivot to carry the knife toward and from a strip of leather while maintaining the knife edges lowermost, means for aligning an edge of the strip to permit manual feeding of the strip through the machine while in contact with the aligning means, and to permit selection of the points of said strip where cuts are to be made by said knife, means for aligning the leading end of the strip during said manual feeding of the strip in one direction only and with the same face uppermost, and means for adjusting said end aligning means during said feeding to vary the width of the parts cut from the strip in accordance with the varying thicknesses of the strip and the defects therein.

'7. In a machine of the character described, a branched knife having a plurality of cutting edges meeting each other, an oscillatory frame carrying said knife, means for swinging said frame toward and from a strip to make cuts in said strip, means for aligning an edge of the strip, means for aligning the leading end of the strip, and means within reach of the operator for adjusting the end aligning means while the machine is in operation to vary the widths of the parts out from the strip in accordance with the varying thicknesses of the strip and parts'cut from the strip in accordance with the varying thicknesses of the strip and the defects therein.

8. In a machine of the character described, an oscillatory knife support, and a knife carried by said support and being of sufiicient length to out completely across a strip of leather to produce half soles therefrom by longitudinally spaced cuts made by said knife in said strip, said knife comprising a longer edge concave outwardly, and a second shorter edge concave outwardly and tangent to the first-mentioned concave edge intermediate the extremities of said edges, the longer concave edge beyond one extremity of the shorter edge being rounded through an angle of less than 90 and adapted to extend to an edge of the strip, and the other ends of said concave edges being in alignment and adapted to extend to the other edge of the strip, the shorter edge partly but not completely severing a waste piece from the strip when pressed through the strip from one given face of the strip to the other.

9. In a machine of the character described, an oscillatory knife support, and a knife carried by said support and adapted to out completely across and to successively contact with the same face of a strip of leather to produce a pair of united and mated half soles therefrom in two operations, said knife comprising a pair of spaced V-shaped cutting edges arranged with the apices thereof in transverse alignment and adjacent each other.

10. In a machine of the character described, an oscillatory knife support, and a knife carried by said support, said knife comprising a pair of cutting edges each rounded at one of its ends, said edges being convex toward each other and tangent at a point substantially midway between the ends thereof and being of sufficient length to out half soles completely across a strip of leather by cuts made through the same from one given face thereof to the other, whereby a pair of triangular waste pieces are severed from the strip, and the front edge and part of the rounded end of one half sole and the rear edge and part of the rounded end of another half sole are cut simultaneously, the edge of the strip forming the straight ends of the half soles.

EMANUEL BERKOWITZ. 

